Rangpur Riders' opener Alex Hales described Fortune Barishal skipper Tamim Iqbal's behavior during the post-match handshake as "pathetic," following a dramatic victory in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The tension unfolded after Rangpur secured a thrilling win, thanks to a match-winning 30-run final over by Nurul Hasan.
The intense emotions of the match spilled over as Tamim confronted Hales during the customary handshake.
According to reports, Tamim stormed toward Hales and said, “Why are you behaving this way? If you have something to say, say it to my face. Act like a man.”
This confrontation caught the attention of even Nurul Hasan, who was still recovering from his stunning final-over performance.
“I wasn’t close enough to hear what happened,” said Hasan. “I only saw the end when people were trying to calm Tamim down. Something definitely happened, but I don’t know what it was.”
The situation escalated quickly, with both teams’ personnel stepping in to de-escalate the confrontation. Rangpur’s team director, Shanian Taneem, and Barishal’s Mahedi Hasan intervened to prevent further escalation.
During a recent interview, Hales recounted the incident, saying, "I don't know, he (Tamim) was upset about something... we shook hands, and nothing was said when he asked me if I had something to say and to say it to his face, but I didn’t say anything. Then, he started getting very personal."
Hales alleged that Tamim made personal remarks, referencing his past suspension and questioning if he was "still taking drugs."
He expressed disappointment with Tamim’s conduct, emphasizing that on-field matters should stay on the field.
The match itself was a thrilling contest. Fortune Barishal, batting first, set a daunting target of 197/5, powered by strong performances from Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Kyle Mayers, and Faheem Ashraf.
Rangpur Riders, however, weren’t backing down. Chasing nearly 200 runs, they kept their hopes alive with crucial knocks from Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah.
But it was Nurul Hasan who emerged as the true hero, defying all odds. With 26 runs required from the final over, Nurul smashed three sixes and three fours off Kyle Mayers, securing a remarkable victory for Rangpur.
For the unversed, Hales, who was in exceptional form during the BPL, finished the competition with 218 runs in six matches at an average of 54.50 and a strike rate of 155.71.
He later flew to Dubai to join the International League T20 (ILT20).
- Tamim Iqbal
